65 Lawn & Flowers Edging Ideas

Gardens gain a distinctive appeal through edging. Essentially, this process helps to differentiate one area from another. The most common purpose of edging is to divide where your lawn ends and where your garden begins. Likewise, edging serves as a way to locate flower beds and sitting areas, among others.

Here, we’ve got 65 lawn and flowers edging ideas to enhance the overall shape and form of your garden.

1) Metal Lawn Edging Ideas

This form of edging is incredibly tough. The metal can easily withstand extreme weather temperatures. Thus, this is a practical option if you want long-term edging. However, it’s important to know the strengths of each material.

For one, steel can take any form you prefer. It does succumb to corrosion in the long run, but giving it a corrosion-resistant finish will improve its lifespan. Second, aluminum edging is good for curved areas and does not suffer from rust, but it will lose shape faster than steel.

2) Red Brick Edging (Flower Bed Edging)

One of the most common options is to use red bricks. You can individually place these bricks, and it’s easy to make a curved edging. You can opt to connect the short ends to each other to get a relatively thin appearance. Consequently, you can place the wide ends of the bricks together for a thicker edge.

3) Aluminum Gooseneck Pipes - Garden Borders

This material is actually used for washing machines, but its form can be utilized for an unusual yet modern take on lawn edging. We recommend cutting these pipes to just six inches each using a handsaw. Aluminum gooseneck pipes have joints for quick turning. Thus, you can use this no matter the shape of the flower or vegetable bed. Don’t forget to place metal stakes to firmly place them to the ground.

4) Sawtooth Brick Edging

Do you want to achieve the look of a sawtooth using bricks? This decorative edging is done through the partial placement of the bricks into the soil. Sawtooth brick edging is an affordable choice. In fact, there is an added appeal when you use reclaimed bricks to achieve a worm and vintage look on your property. Just position them correctly to get the diagonal shape.

5) White Marbles

The use of crushed white marble reached peaked popularity back in the 1950s and 1960s. While it might not be the top choice today, it is still a practical choice. White marbles are available in abundant amounts. They are cheap yet their color creates a desirable contrast with the greenery on your property. Combined with grass, it creates a beach-like appearance.

6) Glass Bottles

Before you get rid of your drinking bottles, why not use them for creating a bed border? If you don’t have enough bottles, you will likely find colored glass bottles in yard sales. Otherwise, you can just ask your local restaurant to give you any empty bottles. Just stick the top area in the ground, and you’ll get a colorful border.

7) Timber Edging

In particular, we recommend pine that has been treated to fend off insects and rotting. Timber edging is a great option for creating straight, raised edges. Burying nearly half of the pine in the ground will improve stability. Use a hammer or mallet to firmly place the galvanized nails, which will connect the timber ends together.

8) Submerged Flower Bed

This is a sustainable edging idea. A submerged flower bed can look great once you’ve planted succulents in it. Apart from adding color to your garden, the submerged flower bed will utilize any excess water coming from the wooden deck. In fact, the green appearance along with the wood right next to it gives your property an overall natural look.

9) Concrete Edging

While this is a durable edging option, it does feel difficult to attain. Specifically, you cannot just get the right cut for the corner area by hand. You will need to use a diamond blade to cut concrete with ease. This tool can be expensive, but you can always opt to rent one from a local power tools store.

10) Paver Blocks

If you don’t like using red bricks, you can opt for paver blocks. These are specifically made for decorative purposes. They are individually placed down to the ground, so precision is needed. Thankfully, you can quickly replace a damaged or discolored paver block by simply lifting it up. There is no need to completely remove the whole edging with this option.

11) Dry Creek Bed - Classic Lawn Edging

A creek bed acts as a drainage system and an edging structure at the same time. Even better is that a dry creek bed complements the largely green appearance of a garden lawn. Instead of having unsightly pipes or any other drainage system, you can just dig a trench and place pebbles or stones in it.

12) Wood and Piling Stones

This edging option combines both wood and stones to distinguish one area from another. Stones of varying sizes and colors are piled on top of each other. Between the bulky sections of stone are blocks of wood. To get a relatively uniform look, use a measuring tape to get the right distance between each wooden block.

13) Raised Garden Bed

Raised garden beds have been a popular growing method for hundreds of years. Apart from making it easier to reach the plants due to the raised soil surface, these beds have good drainage. In addition, weed and pest control are more manageable with these. Furthermore, your property gets a sense of depth thanks to the raised areas.

14) Steel Cylinders with Plants

Steel cylinders to corrode in time, but the appearance of rust can create a desirable worn-out look. These materials effectively cover one area of the garden due to their height. Consequently, you can fill the cylinder holes with soil and other material to grow succulents. Thus, each cylinder acts as a border and a container at the same time.

15) China Plates

Aside from bottles, you can also recycle china plates. Here, the blue-and-white plates complement the green and yellow colors in the garden. Around half or one-third of the plates need to be stuck in the ground for stability. If you do want a change of scenery with your edging, you can replace them with plates featuring different colors and patterns.

16) Bird Ornaments

These bird ornaments for edging are perfect for children. They provide a whimsical appearance, especially when you position many of them to form a border. Even if you only have a couple of them, bird ornaments should brighten up the edging. Of course, you can use other animal ornaments that would serve as stoic guardians for your garden.

17) Vine Support in Beds

Flower or vegetable beds are good on their own, but what if you can use more space within them? By adding structures that support vine growth, you can maximize the available area in your garden. You can place the vine support at the side to act as towers. At the center are your plants growing in the soil.

18) Hubcap Garden Edging

It’s not just the aluminum gooseneck pipes from washing machines that can be reused for edging. Here, hubcaps or wheel covers from automobiles separate the lawn area from the garden. They are quite big in size, so each individual hubcap can cover a decent space on its own. Similar to other recyclable materials, you just have to place a third or half of them in the ground for stability.

19) Wines and Hoses

Wine and other glass bottles provide different colors, but these bottles can also guide your hose irrigation system. You can stick a piece of wood or metal rod into the ground. In turn, you can place the wine bottles upside down and keep them steady. Afterward, you just have to use them to guide your hose around your garden to prevent tangling and displacement.

20) Irregular Rock Edging

While uniformity of materials in terms of color and size is a good thing, the same can be said for irregularly shaped materials. For one, rocks of different shapes can still look good for edging. Place the rocks together in such a way that their straight sides are facing the lawn. Thus, you’ll still get a clear division between your lawn and your garden.

21) Cinder Block Edging

Red bricks and pavement blocks are tough and easy to place, but what about cinder blocks? Well, they work well as edging, durable plant containers, and even materials for a raised garden bed. Cinder blocks are fairly cheap and they are easier for making beds than lumber. Simply stack them together until you get your desired height and area. Afterward, grow border plants in each one too for full utilization.

22) Slabs and Grass Pathway

Some homeowners prefer to cover the area surround the slab pathway with pebbles. For a more natural look, you can grow lawn grass around the slabs. The grass will utilize any rainwater dripping from the slab pathway. Additionally, the lush greenery will create a decent contrast to the slabs.

23) Scrap Wood

This is a practical option for homeowners who conduct wood-based projects. Due to all of the construction, there will likely be a lot of scrap wood remaining. Instead of discarding them, the wood can be used for edging and fencing. With a basic application of paint, these scraps of wood can add color and protection to your garden.

24) Sweet Flag Variegatus

It can be confusing to pick among the plants you can grow at the edge of your property. Well, a fantastic plant to grow is the variegated sweet flag. This deciduous and perennial plant looks good on its own. In particular, it’s good for a minimalist property. This plant can grow five-foot leaves. As a bonus, these leaves give off a fragrant aroma.

25) Cedar Cube Lights

For a bit of illumination, you can create these cedar cube lights. First, you’d need several 4x4 cedar depending on how many lights you want to put up on your garden. Second, these cedars should be cut in four-inch cubes. Third, you should drill the top section of the cedar cubes. This is where you’ll insert the lights.

26) Cut Wooden Disks

After trimming your trees, don’t discard the cut wood. Instead, you can cut the removed logs or thick branches into two-inch wooden disks. The sizes don’t have to be similar at all when you place them on your pathway.

Dig a bit into the soil before placing the wooden disks. This ensures that your surface will still be even. Likewise, this will prevent the wooden disks from being accidentally dislodged when the edge comes in contact with your foot.

27) Front Yard Planter Boxes

A modern enhancement at the front of your house could come in the form of planter boxes. These lengthy wooden structures just need flowers and plants in them. Just remember to limit the variety of plants in them to maintain an organized appearance. Likewise, herbs can be grown in these planter boxes for you to harvest from time to time.

28) Side Yard Edging

Aside from the front yard, the side of your lawn also needs attention. Here, you can grow plants such as hostas and impatiens. Both of them thrive in shaded areas, which is often the case in the side section of a yard.

Hosta plants are valued not for their flowers but for their beautiful large leaves that overlap. On the other hand, impatiens plants spread easily as the seeds get scattered all around once the seed pods ripen.

29) Non-Edge Garden Beds

Instead of having raised garden beds at the side of your property, why not place them on the lawn? For this, you will need a lot of wood-decking screws and several lumbers. The sizes all depend on how large you want the garden beds to be. Usually, a 3 feet x 5 feet bed is good enough for growing flowers and vegetables.

30) Wine Crates

It’s not only the colorful wine bottles that can be recycled. The wine crates can also be utilized for growing flowers, herbs, and vegetables away from your lawn. There are liquor stores that will give them away for free or sell them for cheap. Either way, wooden crates just need to have lawn or leaf collection bags in them before you place any soil and plants.

31) Elevated Garden Beds

You’ve seen raised beds, but what about the elevated variant? These beds create a wonderful first impression simply due to their considerable height compared to the lawn. To create them you will need three-inch screws and wooden boards with a length and width of your own choosing. Don’t forget to either drill holes or create a slight gap between the bottom sections for the drainage.

32) Raised Beds with Cement Mixing Tubs

"If you have a bad back and love to garden, you might want to consider a raised garden bed.These plans with a tough container are perfect for growing vegetables and flowers. This method helps you from sharing your fresh vegetables with unwanted critters too!" ~ Thanks, Melanie Ellsworth for your suggestion!

33) Breeze Blocks Raised Bed

The great thing about breeze blocks for edging is that they are smooth and singular in appearance. You do not see any separate piece whatsoever, even when the edging is curved. To get this kind of flawless appearance, you’ll need to create a mortar mix. The mix must have a lot of building sand with a bit of cement. Before placing a new layer of breeze blocks, you should spread a two-centimeter layer of mortar first.

34) Raised Brick Flower Beds

The color of the raised bricks provides a good contrast to both the colorful flowers on the bed and the green lawn. It’s easy to place the bricks beside or on top of each other. You can create a curved or straight flower bed that’s both tough and aesthetically appealing.

35) Irregular Slab Pathway

Pathways with uniformly rectangular slabs look good, but there’s nothing wrong with irregular slabs either. Even if the slabs do not have the same shape, they still have the same texture and color. Keep the depth the same to prevent having uneven sections. Once placed in the pathway, they will give off a natural vibe that complements the whole garden.

36) Small Water Feature

A small water feature easily enhances the natural look of any property. If you have a large pot, you can place a pump inside it to enable water circulation. The sound of water is relaxing to the ears, and the constant stream is pleasing to the eyes. In fact, such a water feature can be placed in shaded sections that are usually covered with rock or even with invasive weeds.

37) Rattan Baskets

Baskets made out of rattan aren’t hard to find. The neutral, light grey color goes well with any area on your property. Also, rattan baskets can be conveniently moved from one place to another due to the attached handles. To turn them into plant containers, simply place black plastic bags in them and put holes at the bottom for drainage.

38) Dog Door

If you are a dog owner, you’d want your furry friends to be able to freely roam in your lawn and garden. Of course, the garden should have sufficient fencing to keep them from digging the soil or pulling the plants up. Once this is done, however, you can create a customized door just for dog entry. Remember to make adjustments when building the door. Moisture levels tend to fluctuate and lead to wood expansion.

39) Cast Iron Sink

It sounds unlikely, but a cast iron sink might just well be your next flower bed. When homeowners get their bathrooms or their entire houses remodeled, cast irons sinks tend to be discarded. Lucky for you, this can be turned into a plant bed. For one, a cast iron sink is durable and weighty. Second, it comes in different colors. Third, it already has a drainage hole.

40) Raspberry Canes

You can create a natural edging with just raspberry canes and bamboo canes. Get the canes when you prune the raspberries in winter. Discard any of the raspberry canes that succumbed to plant diseases or appeared brittle. They are tough and flexible initially, but the canes will become hard and stiff in time. To keep them in place, you place bamboo canes for support.

41) Trapezoid Stones

These stones have a shape that allows them to be used for straight or curved edging. The placement should be alternate: a stone placed with its long side facing the garden should be followed up by a stone in the opposite position. A single-level edging of trapezoid stones is good enough, but you turn it into a formidable wall with numerous layers.

42) Seating

If there is enough space separating your lawn from your garden, you can also set one area for seats. This way, you can comfortably enjoy the view with family and friends. Plastic chairs are cheap and easy to move, but wooden ones complement the garden. Also, you can look for wooden items that allow you not only to sit but also lie down.

43) Loose Gravel

As long as the surface is fairly even, you can cover it with loose gravel. This is one of the common ways to signify a pathway in your garden. If you don’t have loose gravel, you can opt for pebbles instead. Regardless of which ones you choose, they will look good alongside edging made out of wood, stone, and even plastic materials.

44) Large Cemented Stones

A raised garden can be covered with huge cemented stones. Due to their rough edges and irregular form, these stones complement the natural layout of the garden. Also, these are undeniably durable materials for edging. Carrying them will indeed require physical effort, but they won’t likely budge due to strong winds or contact with lawn mowers once firmly placed.

45) Oversized Flower Pots

These humongous pots will look great if they are placed in the right areas. For example, placing an oversized flower pot at each side of a large front door is a good idea. Likewise, placing these pots in a row also adds order to one’s garden layout. For starters, you can grow elephant’s ears or fiddle-leaf figs in them since both these plants have large appealing leaves.

46) Iron Cistern

We’ve already recycled a sink, but what about an iron cistern? Such a huge tank for water storage is easy to find, especially since toilets with the flush feature typically have them. Due to the large appearance, you can put the iron cistern in a corner on its own. Once you’ve filled the tank with lots of flowers and pots, you’ll barely notice that it was a reused iron cistern in the first place.

47) Old Doors

If you’ve got old doors lying around, you can place them together side by side and use them as a fence or division. Ensure that the top sections are equal in height for a uniform look. The colors can vary since this variety makes the whole structure more unique. When you want to step out from your lawn and toward your garden, you just have to open one door.

48) Lattice Wood

It’s common for the edge of your property to feature unsightly objects such as a water container or the back of a huge air conditioner. Thankfully, one quick solution to hide them is to use lattice wood. The patterns of the wooden structure will quickly remove any hints of a bulky appliance right behind it.

49) Fire Pit

While a small water feature is nice and all, a cold region might be better off with a fire pit. You can buy a complete fire pit, but you can also save money by individually buying the materials. A steel bowl along with cheap yet sturdy bricks should do the trick. Just drill some holes into the bottom of the bowl to prevent water from accumulating. Afterward, you’ll have a nice warm spot at night for family gatherings and roasting marshmallows.

50) Vigaro Edging Strips

For more or less $15, you can get as much as 20 feet of Vigar edging strips. These are reversible and can be quickly connected to one another. They effectively prevent weeds from entering the garden while also keeping the garden soil in place. Use a hammer or a mallet to carefully place the edging strips firmly in the ground.

51) White Fences

It’s a basic sight in a lot of properties, but one cannot deny the appeal and utility of white fences. Their color complements the lush colors of your flowering plants. Likewise, they serve as a support to keep the plants upright during strong winds. In addition, it’s an easy way to signify the range of the property you own.

52) Centerpiece Bird Bath

Why not invite some friendly birds to your garden? With a bird bath, visitors to your garden can witness birds flocking down from time to time. Apart from having the birds drink water, they can help remove pesky insects. Consequently, the sound of chirping birds always fits the relaxing mood in the garden.

53) Vines

Vines aren’t exclusively for growing in raised garden beds. The columns around your house can be decorated with crossvines. This vine will cover the surrounding area with greenery. Crossvines bloom in March and provide beautiful flowers resembling trumpets. All throughout the year, they are consistently tough and aesthetically appealing even without the tangerine blooms.

54) Differently Colored Flowers

The edging isn’t the only important aspect of a garden. To provide a fascinating contrast against the lush and green lawn, the garden can be filled with a variety of flowers. You can grow petunia, yellow Tickseed, red Coleus, Dianthus, and some poppies. It’s all up to you to experiment with any flowering plants as long as you know when and how to grow them.

55) Steel Panels

Another readily available construction material is the steel panel. The uniform lengths and the horizontal lines along the panels create a minimalist aesthetic. Steel panel is not only an affordable also but also one that will last for years. You don’t even have to do any cutting since the panels sold in stores likely come in sizes that are perfect for lawn edging.

56) Stones and Brick Edging

Bricks and stones alike are common edging materials, so why not use them both? The first division between the lawn and the garden would be the well-placed bricks. A second level would be the big stones that keep the garden soil from sliding down to the lawn. All you have to do is to dig and carry to complete the edging.

57) Railroad Sleepers

Otherwise known as railroad ties, these long and hard bars are easy to use for edging. You can buy railroad sleepers without having to cut them. You can place them on the garden to form a rectangle, but you can also opt to place them in diagonal patterns as seen in the example. This diagonal design can house one medium-sized plant each.

58) Repurposed Garden Hose Ideas

A garden hose is primarily used for irrigating the lawn and garden, but what should be done to damaged and old hoses? Well, you can place wooden or metal posts in the ground. Next, begin to create loops around these posts to create a practical lawn edging. As long as you tighten the hoses, they shouldn’t come loose in the near future.

59) Terra Cotta Pots

If you have an oversupply of plant containers, you can place them on the side. Connect them with each other such that a long line of terra cotta pots begins to form an edging. These are easy to assemble and disassemble when you want to change the pattern. You don’t even have to buy new pots since damaged pots can create a worn look that is oddly appealing.

60) Bowling Balls

This can be dangerous if you don’t place them properly, but they are tough and unique enough to warrant a second look from your neighbors. To prevent the bowling balls from rolling around and hitting other properties, you must dig the soil up first. Let the bowling balls rest in these dug up areas. A single color creates uniformity, but using balls of many colors won’t ruin your garden as well.

61) Bike Wheels

With this edging strategy, it would be best to pick bicycle wheels of the same size. Otherwise, the edging will look messy. Dig a bit of the soil around the garden to sink a portion of the wheels in the ground. To enhance the look of the makeshift edging, the bike wheels can be painted with nature-inspired colors such as blue, yellow, and green.

62) Fence and Bench

Your edging can have one more function that merely covering one section of your lawn or garden from another. A fence base constructed out of aluminum is sturdy enough. When you fill this with white rocks, you’ve got a nice edging. Now, place wooden panels above the fence. Thus, you’ll have an edging that functions as a resting place at the same time.

63) Pond Edging

A small water feature looks cute, but a pond edging will make more than a splash to enhance the look of your garden. The size of the pond will not only attract birds but also frogs that eat pesky insects. You can experiment with the materials to create various textures. One side can have layers of brick while the others have multi-level stones.

64) Rope

Ropes are fairly affordable and vary in thickness, which makes them a nifty material for edging. While they are usually used to connect fences, a thick rope can be looped around a raised garden bed to give it protection. Likewise, the sides of a pathway can have hanging ropes connected by wooden posts.

65) Seashells

Finally, you can have seashells lining up your edging. You can either buy this in stores or reuse them if you have an old aquarium. This can serve as a dry creek and an irrigation system. In addition, seashells create a seaside vibe. You can even grow some air plants on your bed of seashells.

66) Shutter Edging​

Aside from connecting old doors together, you can also recycle your window shutters. You can keep the worn-out look or paint the shutters with refreshing colors such as blue and green. Place enough shutters one after the other and you’ll have enough for a straight edging on your lawn. As a bonus, you can hang small jars and containers for growing herbs to maximize the garden space.

If you need more edging inspiration, check out this video:

Overall, there is a multitude of ways to distinguish and protect one area of your property from another. Lawn edging materials can range from the usual red bricks and steel parts to odd ones such as raspberry canes and garden hoses. Likewise, forming the pathways and decorating the front and side sections of your yard can be fun. Best of all, improving the look of your lawn and garden won’t cost much, especially if you opt to reuse materials.

We hope that our list motivated you to enhance the layout of your property. If you have any questions, feel free to send us a comment.

I'm Ann, I have dedicated most of my life in gardening. This is a subject I enjoy the most. Since then, I committed to developing my website to be the best guidance when it comes to taking care of flowers and plants. I am trying my best to be well-versed with plants found in desert areas, tropics or Mediterranean. I still need to be knowledgeable about so many kinds of botanical life.

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